Jasikan Surges to Oceanside Score

Hronis Racing's Jasikan put his well-known connections in the spotlight July 17 on opening day at Del Mar when he closed with a flourish to win the $117,357 Runhappy Oceanside Stakes by a nose.

The Wednesday feature was the first of 40 stakes races scheduled for the seaside oval's 80th summer meet, which features live racing on a Wednesday-through-Sunday basis until the meet closes Sept. 2. The announced attendance was 31,276.

In the Oceanside, a one-mile contest for 3-year-olds on the Jimmy Durante turf course, Jasikan stepped back into stakes company for trainer John Sadler after a confidence-boosting allowance optional claiming victory May 27 over the same distance on the Santa Anita Park lawn.

The son of Bated Breath was third one start prior in the April 28 Singletary Stakes, his stateside debut and first stakes try. Bred in Ireland by Mrs Maria Marron out of the Sinndar mare Adelfia, he raced sixth at the Curragh at first asking in August, then broke his maiden at Dundalk in November before he was imported to the U.S.

Jockey Flavien Prat was unhurried early aboard Jasikan, the 9-5 favorite in the Oceanside, and bided his time at the back of a 12-horse field as Legends of War showed the way through fractions of :23.14 and :47.18 under mild pressure from City Rage. 

As three-quarters went in 1:11.13, the eventual winner coiled up to launch a strong outside rally and engaged with Nolde, who took the lead as the field turned for home. Through seven-eighths in 1:23.23, those two battled for the win, and Jasikan emerged victorious in a photo finish.

The final time was 1:34.93 on turf rated firm. Rijeka completed the trifecta 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

"He didn't break super good, but he comes from out of it, so it's not a really big problem," Prat said. "He traveled really nice, relaxed the whole way, and as soon as I got him in the clear, he gave me a good kick."

"He actually broke better today," Sadler said. "His last race, he broke really slow. Today he broke regular slow. He's just not a horse that's very good from the gate, but he's got a lovely turn of foot and as you saw, he looped the field and came from way back.

Jasikan improved his record to three wins and a third from five starts, with earnings of $131,641.

"I didn't sleep too well last night because I set the bar really high last year (for the Del Mar meet)," added Sadler, who is participating in his 41st season at Del Mar. "A little nervous, Day One trepidation, but our other horses ran well today and this one got the job done as the favorite, so we're delighted.

"It feels great to be back here at Del Mar. I've been coming here for a lot of years and it's a very good feeling. The place is beautiful and the weather's great."

Video: Runhappy Oceanside S. (BT)